My review was written in January 1991 after watching the movie on RCA/Columbia video cassette.
"Rush Week" is a 1988 slasher film long on pretty girls and short on gore. It's a belated direct-to-video release.
Durable if cornball format has coeds being killed on a college campus during the frats' annual rush week ceremonies. Only fledgling reporter Pamela Ludwig believes in the disappearances; the stupid dean (Roy Thinnes in a poorly acted transparent bad guy role) keeps pooh-poohing her evidence.
It isn't until the climax, when the ax wielding killer is beheaded, that the film delivers the makeup effects fans have come to expect from this genre. Instead, all the murders take place offscreen and director Bob Bralver seems more intent on satisfying voyeurs.
In fact, the female victims all appear topless (no pun intended) and are extremely well-endowed; Kathleen Kinmont (pre-marriage to Lorenzo Lamas), Toni Lee and Laura Burkett. By this standard, mosy heroine Ludwig is never in any real danger of being wasted.
Rocker Gregg Allman guest stars but makes no impression as Ludwig's stoned-out faculty advisor. Film's mixture of gags from an "Animal House"-type pic doesn't work in the horror context. Killer's identity is telegraphed blatantly in the first reel.
"Rush Week" is a 1988 slasher film long on pretty girls and short on gore. It's a belated direct-to-video release.
Durable if cornball format has coeds being killed on a college campus during the frats' annual rush week ceremonies. Only fledgling reporter Pamela Ludwig believes in the disappearances; the stupid dean (Roy Thinnes in a poorly acted transparent bad guy role) keeps pooh-poohing her evidence.
It isn't until the climax, when the ax wielding killer is beheaded, that the film delivers the makeup effects fans have come to expect from this genre. Instead, all the murders take place offscreen and director Bob Bralver seems more intent on satisfying voyeurs.
In fact, the female victims all appear topless (no pun intended) and are extremely well-endowed; Kathleen Kinmont (pre-marriage to Lorenzo Lamas), Toni Lee and Laura Burkett. By this standard, mosy heroine Ludwig is never in any real danger of being wasted.
Rocker Gregg Allman guest stars but makes no impression as Ludwig's stoned-out faculty advisor. Film's mixture of gags from an "Animal House"-type pic doesn't work in the horror context. Killer's identity is telegraphed blatantly in the first reel.